Monument MPM2016 - Trench, east of Pigeon House Lane

Possible early 20th century military training trench recorded during an archaeological evaluation in 2021. The trench had sharp and angular edges and ran in a zig-zag pattern. The fill contained barbed wire.

Possible early 20th century military training trench recorded in a trial trench during an archaeological evaluation in 2021.

The trench was observed as a linear ditch 26m long and aligned south-west/north-east. It was visible to a maximum width of 1.6m (width of archaeological trial trench) and ran in a curved or zig-zag pattern with sharp and angular edges. Barbed wire was recovered from the fill of one section of the trench. Beneath the main fill was a firm grey-brown silty chalk fill with frequent flint inclusions and occasional iron fragments. The feature aligned with a cropmark shown on historic aerial photographs the trial trench was targeting.

The barbed wire most likely suggests an early 20th century military training trench, similar to those recorded at Southwick Hill Crossroads (MPM1969), although on a different alignment. The presence of this and a second trench recorded during the same archaeological evaluation (see MPM2017) was thought to suggest a wider network of military trenches is present along the ridge between Fort Widley and the Southwick roundabout as well as in the SSSI area to the south. They are likely to have an added significance due to their association with Fort Widley to the east.

Ward, Francesca, 2021, Archaeological Trial Trenching Evaluation and Recording Report: Fort Widley, Portsmouth (Unpublished document). SPM588.